Gosport Smile Clinic Also known as South Cliff Dental Group Gosport

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We will be following up on our concerns to ensure they have been put right by the provider.

During our assessment of this key question, we found concerns around the ineffectiveness of the systems or processes to assess, monitor and mitigate the risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of service users and others who may be at risk. In addition, the practice did not have effective systems to ensure dental records were stored securely.

This resulted in a breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can find more details of our concerns in the body of the report below.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Shared direction and culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Freedom to speak up is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

We found staff to be open to discussion and feedback.

Feedback from staff was obtained through meetings and informal discussions. Staff were encouraged to offer suggestions for improvements to the service.

Staff told us how they collected and responded to feedback from patients, the public and external partners.

There was a lack of leadership and oversight at the practice and systems and processes were not embedded among staff.

There had recently been a high turnover of staff, and most staff had been in position for less than 6 months.

The information and evidence presented during the assessment was not always clear and readily available. The practice had a governance system which included policies, protocols and procedures that were accessible to all members of staff. However, as many staff were new, they were not familiar with the governance system in place.

The practice did not have clear and effective processes for managing risks, issues and performance. For example, the risks associated with fire safety, hazardous substances, the management of dental sharps and clinical waste. The system for ensuring out of date items are identified and removed was not working effectively. In addition, we noted there were gaps in the servicing of equipment prior to the announcement of the assessment.

Staff password protected patients’ electronic care records. However, they did not demonstrate an awareness of the importance of these in protecting patients’ personal information as we found open cupboards in a patient area containing forms with patient data on them.

The practice had systems to review and investigate incidents and accidents, and for receiving and acting on safety alerts.

The practice responded to concerns and complaints appropriately.

The practice had systems and processes for learning, quality assurance and continuous improvement. However, these had not identified the issues we identified on the day of assessment.

The judgement for Partnerships and communities is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Learning, improvement and innovation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.